What is and How To Fix It. Overview of. is a type of EXE file associated with Windows Update developed by Microsoft Corporation for the Windows Operating System. The latest known version of is 1.0.0.0, which was produced for Windows 7. This EXE file carries a popularity rating of 1 stars and a security rating of "UNKNOWN. What Are EXE Files. EXE ("executable") files, such as are files that contain step-by-step instructions that a computer follows to carry out a function . When you "double-click" an EXE file, your computer automatically executes these instructions designed by a software developer (eg. Microsoft Corporation) to run a program (eg. Windows Update) on your PC. Every software application on your PC uses an executable file - your web browser, word processor, spreadsheet program, etc. - making it one of the most useful kinds of files in the Windows operating system. Without executable files like you wouldn't be able to use any programs on your PC. Why Do I Have EXE Errors. Because of their usefulness and ubiquity, EXE files are commonly used as a method of delivery for virus / malware infection. Often, viruses will be disguised as a benign EXE file (such as and distributed through SPAM email or malicious websites, which can then infect your computer when executed (eg. when you double-click the EXE file. In addition, viruses can infect, replace, or corrupt existing EXE files . which can then lead to error messages when Windows Update or related programs are executed. Thus, any executable files that you download to your PC should be scanned for viruses before opening - even if you think it is from a reputable source. When Do EXE Errors Occur. EXE errors, such as those associated with most often occur during computer startup, program startup, or while trying to use a specific function in your program (eg. printing. Common Error Messages. The most common errors that can appear on a Windows-based computer are. Application Error. is not a valid Win32 application. has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience. "Cannot find. not found. "Error starting program. is not running. "Faulting Application Path. These EXE error messages can appear during program installation, while a software program (eg. Windows Update) is running, during Windows startup or shutdown, or even during the installation of the Windows operating system. Keeping track of when and where your error occurs is a critical piece of information in troubleshooting the problem. Causes of Errors. problems can be attributed to corrupt or missing files, invalid registry entries associated with or a virus / malware infection. More specifically, these errors can be caused by. Corrupt Windows registry keys associated with / Windows Update. Virus or malware infection that has corrupted the file or related Windows Update program files. Another program maliciously or mistakenly deleted files. Another program is in conflict with Windows Update and its shared referenced files. Corrupt download or incomplete installation of Windows Update software. How To Fix Errors. Caution: We do not recommend downloading from "EXE download" sites. These sites distribute EXE files that are unapproved by the official file developer, and can often be bundled with virus-infected or other malicious files. If you require a copy of it is recommended that you obtain it directly from Microsoft Corporation. Below is a list of troubleshooting steps to resolve your problems. These troubleshooting steps get progressively more difficult and time consuming, so we strongly recommend attempting them in ascending order to avoid unnecessary time and effort. Please Note: Click the [ ] image to expand the troubleshooting instructions for each step below. You can also click the [ ] image to hide the instructions as you proceed through each step. Step 1: Repair Registry Entries Associated with Windows Update. Sometimes and other EXE system errors can be related to problems in the Windows registry. Several programs can share the same file, but when these programs are uninstalled or changed, sometimes "orphaned" (invalid) EXE registry entries are left behind. Basically, what this means is that while the actual file path may have changed, its incorrect former location is still recorded in the Windows registry. When Windows tries looking up these incorrect file references (file locations on your PC), errors can occur. In addition, malware infection may have corrupted the registry entries associated with Windows Update. Thus, these invalid EXE registry entries need to be repaired to fix the root of the problem. Manually editing the Windows registry to remove invalid keys is not recommended unless you are PC service professional. Incorrectly editing your registry can stop your PC from functioning and create irreversible damage to your operating system. In fact, one misplaced comma can prevent your PC from booting entirely. Because of this risk, we highly recommend using a trusted registry cleaner such as WinThruster (Developed by Microsoft Gold Certified Partner) to scan and repair any registry problems. Using a registry cleaner automates the process of finding invalid registry entries, missing file references (like the one causing your error), and broken links within the registry. A backup is automatically created before each scan, with the ability to undo any changes in a single click, protecting you against the possibility of PC damage. The best part is that repairing registry errors can also dramatically improve system speed and performance. Caution: Unless you an advanced PC user, we DO NOT recommend editing the Windows registry manually. Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall Windows. We do not guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk. To manually repair your Windows registry, first you need to create a backup by exporting a portion of the registry related to (eg. Windows Update. Click the Start button. Type " command " in the search box. DO NOT hit ENTER yet. While holding CTRL-Shift on your keyboard, hit ENTER. You will be prompted with a permission dialog box. A black box will open with a blinking cursor. Type " regedit " and hit ENTER. In the Registry Editor, select the key (eg. Windows Update) you want to back up. From the File menu, choose Export. In the Save In list, select the folder where you want to save the Windows Update backup key. In the File Name box, type a name for your backup file, such as "Windows Update Backup. In the Export Range box, be sure that " Selected branch " is selected. The file is then saved with a file extension. You now have a backup of your registry entry. The next steps in manually editing your registry will not be discussed in this article due to the high risk of damaging your system. If you would like to learn more about manual registry editing, please see the links below. We do not claim any responsibility for the results of the actions taken from the content linked below - complete these tasks at your own risk. error messages can occur in any of the following Microsoft Windows operating systems. Are You Still Experiencing Issues. Please reach out to us anytime on social media for more help. About The Author: Jay Geater is the President and CEO of Solvusoft Corporation, a global software company focused on providing innovative utility software. He is a lifelong computer geek and loves everything related to computers, software, and new technology. Browse EXE Files in Alphabetical Order. Solvusoft: Microsoft Gold Certified Company.
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